Should I get some Oto catfish?

[gmh]

I'm thinking of rehoming my SAE and replacing him with three Otos. I have a 40 gallon tank. The problem is I have large grained gravel with sharp edges. It is not good for loaches or other catfish.
Do you think the Otos would wear out the barbells while eating algae off the gravel?

 

[zzyzx85]

wow...no one responded to this.

IMHO, I think the gravel will no pose a problem for otos. They do not scurry along the bottom like cories do but swim a lot more.

 

[LeahK]

Otos, as far as I know, do not have barbels.

I have several otos, who seem to be doing well. However, having learned a lot about them, I actually wouldn't recommend them for most aquariums.

They are ALL wild-caught. Many, if not all, are caught using chemicals that paralyze the otos to make them easier to net. So, the first big killer is these chemicals, which really weaken the fish. This means that many die off after being captured, even when they seem to be doing fine.

The second big killer is that it's difficult to get otos to accept prepared food.

Mine eat ONLY algae. Thankfully I have enough algae to sustain mine.

I supplement their diet with zucchini, but my barbs eat most of the zucchini before anyone else gets it.

I guess I would ask, why do you want the otos? Could cory catfish or other bottom-dwellers be good for your set-up?

 

[7itanium]

sure your not thinking of cories?

ottos will be fine...

 

[Rjb3]

My otos spend most of their time on the glass or cleaning plants.

 

[Cluunox]

i have a oto and i don't think i have ever seen him on the gravel at all. everything else from plants to heaters and c02 ladders but not the gravel.

 

[gmh]

Thanks for the responses. I think I will try to trade my SAE and get a group of three. My favorite fish store does not carry them because of they die on him, so I guess I'm taking a chance. This is a well planted 40 gallon and there is always some algae on the boad leafed plants.

 

[pinkertd]

Curious if you see a black spot by the vent on the belly of your SAE?

 

[Wycco]

My favorite fish store does not carry them because of they die on him, so I guess I'm taking a chance.

They die for two reasons.

1) the harsh method by which they are collected using cyanide to stun them from the wild as explained above.

2) pet stores typically don't want algae on their glass and so clean it off meaning the Ottos don't get any food and starve to death in the store. Make sure you don't clean the algae on your tank too well!



I considered them for a while because I like them- but I decided due to their high-die off rates and the method by which they are collected I would pass on them.

I got a Bulldog Pleco instead (which are often wild caught as well- but with a lot lower die-off rate- and to my knowledge arn't collected using cyanide). I would have prefered a Bristle Nose Pleco but none of the stores in my area offered Bristle Nose Pleco.

Bristle Nose are often tank raised.




My Bulldog incidentally did a wonder on my diatoms... I have a little hair algae too that nothing touches. I manually removed it all last night.

 

[gmh]

The lights are off but I seem to recall a black smudge on the underbelly. It's definately a true SAE. I just find it too large and 'zippy' for the tank.
It does do a great job of scavaging but I'm looking for a smaller more benign alternative.